New Orleans Hornets have young players, cap space, draft picks to build team

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In an admittedly twisted sense, a lockout-shortened 21-45 season could prove to be extraordinarily beneficial for the New Orleans Hornets as they embark on an offseason in which an already in-motion rebuilding mode can take firmer shape.

As each injury domino toppled this past season, it gave the team an opportunity to evaluate players who might have otherwise languished at the bottom of Monty Williams’ rotation, or worse, been saddled with a year full of DNP-coach’s decisions.

But the coming months provide the promise of a new beginning, from ownership to roster moves, with the strong likelihood that Williams and General Manager Dell Demps will still be making the basketball decisions.

Prospective owner Tom Benson, whose acquisition of the Hornets is pending approval from the NBA’s Board of Governors, cannot make any changes in the operation until his ownership has been formally endorsed, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

But sources close to Benson say he is enamored with the job Williams and Demps have done, especially this season, and no change is likely to occur.

That out of the way, the basketball brain trust can continue to improve on the product that closed the season with six wins in the final 10 games and a work ethic that earned league-wide respect.